(Newser)
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Barack Obama met today with officials from one of Afghanistan’s most hard-fought regions, the AP reports, and re-iterated his commitment to intensifying US efforts there if elected president. Together with Chuck Hagel and Jack Reed, Obama visited Jalalabad Air Field in Nangarhar province. Nangarhar lies next to the Pakistani border, and has come under intense Taliban attacks, a former warlord told Obama’s delegation.

“Barack Obama expressed support for Afghanistan and especially for Nangarhar province,” one regional official said. “He said he will support reconstruction, development and security all over the country.” But Obama, who also met with top US military leaders at Bagram Air Field, says he’s not in Afghanistan to make promises. “I'm more interested in listening than doing a lot of talking,” he said.